IPS Leadership Team Meetings

The IPS leadership team meets formally once per quarter. We discuss a wide range of topics from professional development to strategic planning. Every topic on the agenda relates to a goal on our strategic plan.

Ever wonder what we talk about? Wonder no more! The summary of all our minutes is posted on the IPS Intranet site. Take a look at how your leadership team is spending its time!

Leadership Team Intranet Site

Times - they are a'changn....

The university has an outstanding benefits package. Everyone should be aware of the changes in pharmacy benefits that occurred in July. Now it's time for health insurance changes.

The changes will not go in effect until January 1, but you MUST make your decisions between September 15 and October 15. DO NOT DELAY. These are important decisions for both you and your family.

Call the benefits hot line at UT 888-444-8847 or visit the state web site here for answers to all your questions.

IRIS Best Practices

IRIS is our friend- really!



Not everyone in IPS uses IRIS, but everyone in IPS is affected by IRIS. It's the financial database that records, tracks and pays for everything that we do - including our travel.

If you are curious about how things work, take a few minutes to view the easy to read "Best Practices in IRIS" that is posted on the UT web site. You might learn something that you didn't know and it might help you understand why your business office staff is so "picky" about the information they request.

Thanks to IRIS, we get our paychecks on time and our travel much quicker than the 'old days.'

IPS Leadership Academy - Week One

Yesterday was the kick-off of the IPS Leadership Academy. The Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend is our host site. The facility is awesome and the food is great.

We started the academy with "Two Truths and A Lie". Each participant brought an "I AM" so that we can learn more about each other.

The first session included results of a 360 degree assessment. Feedback from others in a safe environment is a great way to work on our strengths and look for opportunities to improve skills.

Dinner at Miss Lily's and a history lesson from former Vice President Tom Ballard wrapped up the first day.

We're off to a great start!

Solid Waste Professionals

Congratulations to CTAS for graduating the inaugural class of the Solid Waste Professionals.

In November 2009 UT-CTAS launched the Solid Waste Professionals Certification Program - the first program of its type in the nation which provided both technical and administrative training in solid waste field.

Technical training for the Solid Waste Professionals Certification Program requires 60 hours of training split between two disciples of waste management. This training is provided through UT-CTAS by the Solid Waste Association of North America, an internationally recognized trainer.

Administrative training is provided through UT-CTAS County Officials Certification Program which requires completion of 20 hours of training in management and county government topics. These are offered through on line and other types of training formats.

Since the program began 9 months ago, 33 people have started the training program. September 1 we award completion certificates to 14, which reflects the dedication of these individuals to promote professionalism within the disciples of waste management within the State of Tennessee.

Jon Walden, Kim Raia and Mike Stooksbury lead this effort with tremendous support from the entire CTAS training team. Job well done!

Gifts for university work

I've posted several blogs about IPS policies and procedures. Here's one you may not hear of often.

IPS employees may accept:

Items that are given as part of established recognition or promotional programs such as plaques, paperweights, pens, caps, shirts, entertainment, refreshments and meals.

Occasional non-cash gifts with a value of $50 or less.

Honoraria paid in compliance with UT Travel policy.

Fees and gifts received for services provided outside one’s official duties as a University employee, providing these comply with the UT policy on Conflict of Interest and the IPS policy on Outside Consulting.

Be sure you are familiar with the entire policy. Click here to read the policy.

IPS Diversity Initiatives

We have had a diversity team in place since 2007 and we have worked on several different initiatives. Karen Holt was making real progress before her untimely passing last fall. Her shoes were too big to fill, but I'm making an effort to carry on this important work.

I have a great team working with me including Jennifer Benson, Jane Davis, Joe Flynn, Don Green, Terri Kinloch, Margaret Norris, Chris Payne, and Becky Smeltzer. This is an all volunteer team and we would love to have more team members. Send me an email if you want to join our team.

We have updated our Diversity Statement, Vision and Mission and are working on updating the initiatives. In addition, we have gathered all our work and put it on our intranet site so that all employees can follow our progress.

If you have ideas or suggestions, please share them with me or any member of the team.

Check out our web page. Visit again for updates on our progress.

TN Govt Executive Institute

The Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership recently wrapped up week one of this year's TGEI experience. 30 executives from across state government spent a week in Knoxville learning systems thinking and practicing other leadership skills. In addition, they had two surprise guest speakers - UTK Women's Athletic Director Joan Cronan on Monday and UTK men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl on Thursday.

The second week of the institute is scheduled in October and will wrap up 28 years of UT leading this outstanding program. Thanks to Tom Kohntopp and his staff for an excellent job!

Guest Blog from Armintha Loveday - ERC meeting

Highlights from the August Employee Relations meeting are as follows:

1. Conference Center Building – The tiles on the front of the building that had to be taken off when a couple of the tiles fell and hit the sidewalk should be replaced pretty soon. There was some concern about the safety of the rest of the building, but all the other walls have been checked and there are no loose tiles to fall on anyone’s head. A much needed ice machine is also going to be installed on the 2nd floor.

2. Neyland Stadium Construction – The work on the stadium currently being done should be finished by Saturday, Sept. 4, and Phil Fulmer Drive should be opened. After football season, Phil Fulmer Drive will once again be closed so UT can work on the Stadium again.

3. There are a lot of driving problems around the area of Staff Lot 12 near the Tyson Alumni House and Melrose. Everyone goes the wrong way on a one-way street. Arrows need to be repainted and a one-way sign that is visible needs to be installed.

4. Concern that UT bookstore employees who were told to go home when the tile fell off the front of the Conference Center had to take annual leave. ERC rep thought that this was really not fair as employee had asked to work somewhere else on campus, but was told nothing was available. This had also happened with other employees during the flooding of Nashville. HR was going to check on this to see if this would not be an administrative closing instead of annual leave.

5. PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE Sept. 15 – Oct. 15. Even if you carry BC/BS now and you choose it again, you must sign up for it again. If you do not sign up for insurance during this time, you will not have insurance coverage.

6. AUTumn (Fall) Festival to be held Friday, Oct. 8 at the Aquatic Center.

County Officials Orientation

CTAS recently completed two days of orientation for more than 600 newly elected county officials (and some returning officials!) from across the state.

With the county election cycle occurring every four years, CTAS has the unique opportunity to provide an overview of county government as well as office specific information to all newly elected officials at one time. A large percentage of the officials took advantage of this training recently in Nashville.

The entire CTAS staff worked tirelessly to pull off this exceptional event. I heard rave reviews from every official I was able to talk to.

Outstanding job CTAS!